Denise, a Calgary native turned Research fellow for BRAC Uganda, sips her tea. The early morning mist unveils the rolling hills of Kampala, the Ugandan capital. Her husband, James, outlines today’s plan. Coffee mug in hand, he sifts through moonbean chocolate’s social media.

Kampala, Uganda

As Denise leaves for BRAC, James sorts, then roasts cocoa beans. They will be grinded once cracked and winnowed—a process to remove the outer shell of the cocoa bean to leave only the cocoa nibs—then put into the refining machine. He begins to temper yesterday’s batch of chocolate liquor, which has been refining since. Once tempered, he will mold the chocolate into bars and package them. Returned from work, Denise completes administrative tasks and provides a debrief of what tomorrow will look like. James usually cooks dinner.

Sorting cocoa beans

Cocoa nibs

Moulding into chocolate bars

Harvest time hits monthly. This requires a trip to the cocoa farms in Bundibugyo, a district six hours west of Kampala. Improving fermentation or bean selection are hot topics with the cocoa bean farmers.

Cocoa tree

What’s one thing the husband and wife duo have learned from running a social chocolate-making business in East Africa? They’ll frequently be on their toes.

In The Beginning

Where it all started: Bundibugyo, Uganda

Bundibugyo doesn't see as many tourists as some districts of Uganda, however it does host some attractions, such as Semaliki National Park. The region is comprised of four tribes. It has been the scene of conflicts as recently as the 2016 Local Council elections. Due to its proximity with the Congo, and the difficulty of crossing the mountains, the people of Bundibugyo have been isolated from Ugandan culture. They maintain many of their traditional beliefs and much of their ancestors' way of life. The region is now peaceful and the growth has seen positive developments in the economy. With increased access to wealth, however, come social problems, such as underage pregnancy, high school drop-out rates, and a prevalence of AIDS and other diseases.

Bundibugyo, Uganda

James and Denise spent time between the library, the local teaching college, the cocoa factory and a restaurant called Hotel Vanilla, where they accessed a mildly disruptive internet connection. Hotel Vanilla gave them respite from the bustle and curiosity of village life. They explored the hills, played guitar, and slacklined with the local children.

The Calm Before the Storm

Tasked with establishing a community library in the Bundibugyo District, James, a social responsibility manager for a Ugandan cocoa exporter, spent his days surrounded by cocoa trees; the scent of fermented and drying cocoa beans wafting in the dusty air.

The labour of cocoa beans farmers was noticed. They would remove the beans from the pod, box them for fermentation and shield them with banana leaves. Left to ferment, the beans were turned over every four to five days, until the fleshy pulp dissolved, allowing them to develop a rounded flavour. The beans were then dried on racks to reduce moisture content—a process worked around rain that could take up to two weeks. The dried beans were delivered to exporters.

Cocoa pods

Drying cocoa

Loading cocoa for export

Eureka!

James had his ‘ah ha’ moment once he realized most cocoa products exported from Uganda were in raw, unprocessed form. Almost no one was importing chocolate made in Uganda.

Through discussions with Denise, the business idea of creating Ugandan-made bean-to-bar chocolate emerged.

The Embarkment

Chocolate-making seemed simple…. in the beginning. After reading the basics of chocolate-making online, James and Denise plunged right in. They roasted cocoa beans, cracked and winnowed them by hand and grinded them into a rich, brown liquor of goodness while sweetening with sugar.

Open cocoa pod

There was one problem.

They didn’t have a means to refine the chocolate liquor into a smooth chocolate paste. But after four years of Uganda-living, James and Denise are accustomed to implementing innovative solutions to their problems. And that’s what they did—with a meat grinder. The meat grinder was used to refine the chocolate paste, but after 20 attempts at hand-cranking the device, there was no apparent improvement. The chocolate was tempered anyway, and shaped into chocolate bars. A taste test ensued with farmers and staff. It was delicious.

While ideal for cocoa farms, Bundibugyo threw challenges at the chocolate-making process. Uganda is seldom routine so transport delays, power outages and an endless battle against dust—the least desirable ingredient on chocolate, were usual. The delicate fermenting process required cooler temperatures, so working early mornings and late nights were typical.

Chocolate-making brought more enlightenment than chocolate-making itself. The constant attention to details and being kept on their feet, James and Denise found, were one of the pleasures of life in Africa.

The refining process

Fruit of the Labour

Moonbean chocolate is currently made with 75% and 60% dark chocolate. The 75% dark chocolate maintains the unique ‘tobacco’ flavour of African cocoa. The 60% dark chocolate yields a (red) fruity flavour and a rich, persistent taste. Both chocolates have a glossy finish, a satisfying snap and a deep reddish-brown colour.

And milk chocolate? It’s in the works. Denise and James are testing different flavours—coffee and cocoa nibs, nuts and dried fruit.

They hope to concoct and release new chocolate flavours each month, beginning 2018.

moonbean chocolate bars

moonbean chocolate

What’s in a Name?

Moonbean chocolate. The name transpires from Bundibugyo. Uganda, particularly because it’s embedded in the foothills of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains. Famously known to Ugandans as the Mountains of the Moon, the Rwenzori Mountains claim the third highest peak in Africa. The glacier waters from the mountains feed the Nile River and cocoa tree plantations on the lower slopes. It would only make sense to say the farmers farming those cocoa beans are growing moonbeans.

Mountains of the Moon

The Environment Counts…

Moonbean chocolate ingredients are only sourced in East Africa.

From the eco-friendly awareness raising initiatives with farmers, through the production process, moonbean chocolate tries to embed environmental consciences into each chocolate-making stage.

The packaging envelope is made of recycled paper and banana fibre, with natural food-safe dyes, making it safe for composting and recycling. It is produced by a small company, Rafiki, that supports local women with livelihoods in training and craft skills.

Future green goals aim to provide farmers with cacao seedlings and shade trees to prevent deforestation, land erosion and promote multipurpose farming. Cacao trees avoid direct sunlight, and the shade trees, such as mango, avocado and banana, will also offer tasty edible by products. For a region covered with fertile land, Bundibugyo is incredibly food poor and crop diversification is something they are actively promoting.

…And So Does Philanthropy

Described as a social business, moonbean chocolate actively supports local organizations working towards a shared goal of poverty alleviation through financial literacy training, healthcare, and education initiatives. They pay attention to these areas:

Creating jobs

By solely producing in Uganda, more jobs are created and more money remains in the country. According to the World Bank, for every job created in agro-processing, 2.8 jobs are created in supporting industries.

Education

With more job creation and more money remaining in Uganda, the additional income cocoa farmers and workers generate can be invested into their children's education, and be used to support grass-roots development initiatives in their communities. Additionally, moonbean chocolate envisions a facility where it can guide school-groups, and other would-be chocolate makers, in the process of bean-to-bar chocolate making. James and Denise are developing a cross-curricular syllabus for Ugandan primary school-aged children focusing on cocoa—the history, geography, science and art of chocolate-making.

Chocolate-making workshop

James teaching school-aged children

Healthcare

A severe accident or illness for cocoa bean farmers often leads to poverty. Moonbean chocolate aims to prevent such a scenario by offering access to healthcare schemes and working with local CBO/NGOs to sensitize the communities they work with.

Agricultural best-practice

Farmers are provided with training and education on current agricultural best-practices to increase crop yields, improving methods of fermentation, as well as working practices, to maximize their rewards.

Moonbean chocolate developed a simple philosophy towards giving back to Uganda: trade, not aid.

It’s a unique perspective. Uganda has taken great leaps to reduce poverty and although abundant in natural resources, Uganda lags in areas like improved sanitation, access to electricity, educational progression and child malnutrition. However, donations aren’t necessarily needed. A more sustainable way to address the cause of poverty is through income increase of Ugandan workers. This provides economic benefits and adds value in Uganda by using a business model that empowers African farmers and their communities through trade and not aid.

What’s next?

In stage one of establishing their social business, James and Denise have launched a Kickstarter to fund moonbean chocolate ingredients, register their company in Uganda and develop more eco-friendly packaging material. They intend to offer farmers training sessions to increase cocoa bean harvest quality. The meat grinder has been replaced with a Spectra 11—an appliance actually made to refine chocolate paste.

Moonbean chocolate is an ambitious undertake, with a hope to inspire other cottage industries to add value to crafts and commodities in East Africa. Once they prove that a 'production in Africa' business can be successful and sustainable, they’re optimistic to see many more entrepreneurs following suit.

Disclaimer: These links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement by God & Wanderlust of any of the products, services or opinions of moonbean chocolate. God & Wanderlust bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links.

Are you wondering how to get to the bottom of Brandywine Falls? I hiked down here solo and it was easier than I thought it was. Here’s an in-depth guide, with photos, to help you navigate your way to the bottom of the falls.

So you’re travelling to Taiwan and wondering what you’ll need. Look no further! I lived in Taiwan for a few months and created this list of items I used every day. As helpful as I found these items, I’m sure you will too.

Thinking about travelling solo? Is your gender holding you back? Adrian Behn is no stranger to solo female travel and she’s discovered a few crucial travel facts about being a woman globetrotting on her own.

Are you visiting Dubai in the summer? It's a great time to explore the emirate and to really get a feel of desert living, however it can get quite hot. Here is a helpful list of items you should include in your luggage to survive the summertime desert heat.

Let's face it—travelling as a Muslim woman can be tough. Between planning the details of a trip, to searching for halal food options and making the Islamic five daily prayers a priority, your day can get quite busy. But it doesn't have to be so if you're prepared. Here are five things that will make your travels a bit easier.

Kareemah Ashiru is a Muslim female solo traveler, who blogs at Hijabi Globetrotter. She's visited countries in Europe, Africa and America. She highlights her experiences and struggles with incorporating Islam while she travels.

My guest post for Walking The Imaginary Line, a travel photography and videography blog. I solo traveled to BC during fall 2017. I highlight different cities and some of my photos that will make you want to visit this Canadian province.

Max Brenner restaurant boasts 50 locations worldwide. I visited the New York City location, which also hosts a Max Brenner Chocolate Shop. Alongside a savoury menu, it's well-know for hosting an extensive dessert menu.

Uganda-based James and Denise established moonbean chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate business with East African sourced ingredients. Discover their entrepreneurial journey and what they're doing for Uganda.

Toronto is home to a cultural fusion of desserts. With a dessert cafe at every street corner, it can be hard to narrow down which one to go for, so here's a list of 7 popular desert cafes you should visit.

Is Vancouver safe? One of the questions I asked myself before visiting Vancouver. I've created a Vancouver guide for solo female travelers on transportation, where to stay, places to eat, visit and more!

Samah is a Toronto-based freelance writer, digital marketer and former public servant. Needing more creative inspiration, she purchased a camera for motivation to travel and explore. You can catch her hiking or roaming urban landscapes, camera slung over the shoulder, with an iced chai latte in one hand and checking Instagram in the other.

Looking back, the best travel memories I made were when I was on my own - the ability to meet people more easily, the curious stares, the smiles, the approachability of a solo woman and unfiltered experiences. People often exclaim how brave I must be while my family thinks I’m on something - and they’re right. I’m high on life and the mystery and allure of unknown places are too inviting for me to wait for someone to join in.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a habit of waking up super early - I’m talking 4/5 am. Conveniently, I can get stuff done, go for a run or shoot the sunrise while the city sleeps. Being around people all day can get exhausting, and as I grow older it’s quiet moments like these I find myself looking forward to.

Iceland road trips took longer than usual since we kept stopping for photos 😍 Currently thinking about returning in the winter, for Christmas especially, so I’d appreciate some tips🎅🏽